LIFE for former member for Tamworth Peter Draper is changing lanes – literally.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Draper is taking to the roads full-time, having established his own learner driver school in Tamworth, Professional Driver Education.
Hanging up his political hat last year, following eight years representing the people of Tamworth, Mr Draper said working as a driver mentor had, in part, inspired the idea for his new business.
“I started the mentoring through a Joblink Plus-organised program, when it first got legs a few years ago. I found, through the mentoring, that it was a really rewarding way of helping people to gain a skill that would really enhance and change their lives,” Mr Draper said.
He boasts a good strike rate, too.
“All of the students I’ve mentored through the Joblink program have passed their test on the first go,” he said.
Jokingly, Mr Draper said his “past life” as a politician had geared him for his new job perfectly, not to mention given him the patience needed to be a good driving instructor.
“I think, with driving, it’s all about confidence and making sure that you give praise when it’s due,” he said.
“It can be really stressful for parents and the person learning to drive.”
That’s something he understands well.
“My son, Ben, only recently got his Ps,” Mr Draper said.
The vehicle of choice for Mr Draper’s new venture is pretty sleek, too.
“We chose one manual and one automatic Mazda3 sedan,” he said.